Gopi Shankar Madurai (Our Board Member) on India’s National Council for Transgender Persons

Welcome Statement

Intersex Asia celebrates the appointment of Gopi Shankar Madurai (Our Board Member) on India’s National Council for Transgender Persons

On 22 August 2020, India’s Central government constituted the National Council for Transgender Persons. The Council is a statutory body which has been given a wide mandate to advice the government in designing laws, policies, welfare schemes and grievance redressal mechanisms for transgender and intersex people in India.

Intersex Asia heartily welcomes the appointment of Gopi Shankar Madurai on the Council. Gopi Shankar is a founding member of Intersex Asia and has been a strong leader on intersex rights in the Asian region. Intersex Asia applauds the Government of India for inclusion of an intersex person in the Council and for selecting Gopi Shankar to represent the voice of intersex people in the Council.

Ze brings together a decade-long experience of working on issues related to gender and sexuality. Last year, Gopi’s contribution was recognised by the Madras High Court in its historic judgment which directed the Tamil Nadu Government to pass an order banning the practice of unnecessary surgeries on intersex infants and children. Ze also played an instrumental role in drafting and passage of the Government Order. Further, Gopi has actively promoted rights of intersex people on a wide range of platforms. In 2019, Gopi Shankar’s organisation Srishti Madurai presented joint submission before the UN Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  

We are confident that the appointment of Gopi Shankar to this important statutory body would give a fillip to the intersex human rights movement in India. It is critical that the law-making process on intersex rights should involve consultation with members of the intersex community. Inclusion of an intersex person in the Council is a welcome first-step.

Intersex Asia hopes that the Indian government gives due attention to the needs of intersex people in India. There are number of challenges in India with regard to awareness around intersex rights. Intersex Asia is committed to support intersex people in India as they continue the struggle against forced medical procedures, discrimination, stigmatization and human rights violations.

We congratulate Gopi Shankar and celebrate this momentous occasion along with him and the intersex community in the region.